littleBits_At-home_Guide for Music Inventor KitWHAT IS THIS GUIDE?
This guide will orient you to the content and support materials
that come with your littleBits Kit . We’ll walk you through:
What to do first (Hint: Make a circuit!)
Introductory activities
Troubleshooting tips
Supplemental resources
HI THERE, WELCOME TO LITTLEBITS BY SPHERO! We’re thrilled that
you’re trying out littleBits for your home learning space. The
littleBits Music Inventor Kit is an open-and-go kit designed for
anyone looking for a flexible, yet powerful at home STEAM
solution.
AT-HOME LEARNING FOR MUSIC INVENTOR KIT
Hands-on learning starts with you. Review the following to
understand how littleBits work.
THE POWER BIT, BATTERY & CABLE Each learner will need a power
Bit, a 9V battery, and a littleBits battery cable . All three
components are necessary to start a circuit .
HOW LITTLEBITS WORK The Bits are designed to snap together, end to
end, to create a complete circuit . The magnets inside each of the
Bits’ connectors ensure that students always attach the Bits the
right way.
PARENTS: START HERE!
9V
SNAP
COLOR-CODED Each Bit is color-coded by its function. There are four
colors:
ORDER IS IMPORTANT Power Bits always come first and input Bits only
affect the Bits that come after them.
Pro tip: Bookmark classroom.littleBits.com; it’s a helpful resource
to return to.
POWER is needed in every circuit and is the start of all your
learners’ creations.
POWER
WIRE Bits expand the circuit’s reach and change direction .
Learners use the wire Bits to help place Bits exactly where they
want, especially if they are embedding inside a structure. Some
orange Bits also add a level of complexity and programmability to
the circuit .
WIRE
OUTPUT Bits complete an action or task (for example: light, buzz,
or move). These are the Bits that “Do Something”.
OUTPUT
INPUT Bits add control to the circuit, through information provided
from your learners and/or the environment, and send signals to the
Bits that follow.
INPUT
INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES We’ve curated a selection of inventions and
lessons that work well with your littleBits Music Inventor
Kit.
Check out
https://classroom.littlebits.com/curriculum/at-home-learning-starter-kit
or scan the QR Code below to get started.
The Invention Log guides learners through the engineering design
process as they create, play, remix and share their littleBits
inventions. The Invention Log Checklist is included at the end of
this guide. Scan the QR code below to download the complete
Invention Log.
GETTING STARTED Introducing littleBits Introducing the littleBits
Invention Cycle
INVENTIONS Play a Song Tuning an Analog Synthesizer Invent for Good
Hack your Habits
GAMES Carnival Games
If you have questions about how a particular Bit works, the
Bit-o-pedia: https://classroom.littlebits.com/bit-o-pedia is a
helpful resource. You’ll also find tips and tricks, real world
analogies and more technical “under the hood” explanations.
Once you feel comfortable with the Bits, check out the 100+
inventions and lessons on littleBits Classroom for endless
inspiration and fun!
Keep in mind that success with littleBits is more than just
physical builds and final products; it includes dispositions as
well. Consider how you will encourage and/or evaluate growth
mindsets and curiosity in your learning environment.
TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
SANITIZING Below are Sphero’s tips and tricks on how to clean and
properly disinfect littleBits.
1 Make sure you have the proper cleaning products, e.g. disposable
disinfecting wipes (Lysol or Clorox or similar brands are best) or
spray, paper towels (if using a spray) and disposable gloves.
SPHERO BLOG: https://sphero.com/blogs/news
CONTACT US: https://sphero.com/pages/contact-us
COMMUNITY FORUM: https://community.sphero.com/
For more information about Sphero and to get involved in our
community you can find links to additional resources below.
2 Disconnect your Bits from the power source and wipe down with a
disinfecting wipe.
3 Allow to dry and store back in their cases. We don’t recommend a
spray for littleBits as too much liquid could get into the tiny
openings/connections.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
INVENTION LOG CHECKLIST: Use this checklist to make sure you have
completed all of the steps of the Invention Log.
CREATE
PLAY
REMIX
SHARE
While brainstorming, I came up with at least 3 ideas related to the
challenge.
I listed my constraints and criteria for success so when I remix, I
can look back and make sure my remixes are on the right
track.
I looked at all of my available Bits and materials and wrote down
different ways some of them could help me complete the
challenge.
I made a detailed drawing of my first prototype and explained
exactly how I thought it would work during the Play phase of the
Invention Cycle.
I paid careful attention to my prototype while I was playing so I
could learn about how it worked.
I recorded my observations in my Invention Log, including both
things that I liked about the prototype and things that weren’t
right yet and needed work.
For each one of my remix prototypes, I identified what new thing I
was trying.
Everytime I created a new prototype, I made a new prototype profile
in my Invention Log so I could look back at all the different
things I tried later.
After playing with and testing a prototype, I recorded what
happened, what was successuful, and what still needed work so I
could continue to improve my invention.
I created an “after” storyboard to go with my “before” storyboard.
Together they show how my invention has solved a problem or filled
a need.
I shared my invention and the story of how or why it was made with
someone else.
I thought about everything I did during the challenge, and wrote
down future improvements & new things I want to try when I
create my next invention.
STUDENT TEACHER
TUNINg PROJECT 1: Learn how to make your song’s pitch
perfect.
Always con nect the batt an d turn power on .
press mode
power speakerkeyboard oscillator
2 Pick on e key an d turn the “octa ” dial clockwi se an d
counterclock se. Do you he ar the differen ce? Listen to the ran ge
(how “ gh” an d “low” sound goes).
4 urn pitch knob on oscillator to ch an ge the freuen cy.
5 Play all the notes the bottom ro w of the key board c secu ly m
left to right. T s is called a maor scale in music. You may
recognie it as do-re- mi- -so-la- -do.
6 Play do-re-mi again, does it sound “right” to you? Remember
“pitch ” is per- cei d differen tly fo r eve ry e! If the notes
didn’t sound quite right, tr y slowly adjust- ing the tune dial
counterclockwi se un l it sounds “in tune.”
3 urn the board “octa ” con tr ol to the middle of the ran
ge.
TUNINg • Tuning is the relationship between the pitches in a
musical instrument. Instruments need to be “tuned” and a
synthesizer is no different. By tuning instruments, you can create
“melodies” that are recognizable. • The tuning dial on the
oscillator Bits module will alter the relationship between pitches.
This will be important when using the keyboard and micro
sequencer.
1 Sta rt wi th th is circuit.
7 You£ successfully tun¤ your oscilla¥ , YOU’Re readY TO
PLaY!
21
turn me on ch an ge pitch
power speakerkeyboard oscillator
1 Sta rt wi th th is circuit. 2 n, tune your oscilla (see previous
p ject).
3 Adjust pitch to match ran ge of your voice!
4 USe ThiS coLOr COdeD KEYboaRd and tHe noTeS to The RIGhT TO HeLP
YoU PLaY a SOnG!
Do you recognize it?
Go to littleBits.cc/synth to learn how to play more tunes!
The bass sound in Stevie Wonder’s 1973 song “Living for the City”
features the use of a keyboard, oscillator, and envelope. Can you
replicate that sound?
22 SYNTH